Monday Morning Review Round-up

Ink Reviews

PenInkCillin: Noodler’s #41 Brown Ink

Notebook/Planner Reviews

Well Appointed Desk: Leuchtturm1917 Pocket Plain Notebook

East, West, Everywhere: Miquelrius Eco Notebook

Ms. Logica: Field Notes Memo Book

Life Imitates Doodles: Semikolon Mucho Spiral Notebook

Plannerisms: Signature Gutenberg Notebooks by Daycraft

Pen/Pencil Reviews

FPGeeks: Lamy Studio Fountain Pen

Notebook Esq.: Lamy Studio Rollerball – Stainless Steel Finish

A Penchant for Paper: Pentel Fluorescent Marker

No Pen Intended: Noodler’s Ink Ahab Fountain Pen Lapis Inferno Flex Nib

Multi Pen Dimensions: Tombow Object Rollerball Pen Matte Black

Stamp Reviews

The Pen Thief: John H. Johnson Stamp

 

Valentine’s Day Inspiration Collection

Bloggers have lit up the web with Valentine’s Day inspiration before your New Year’s resolutions had time to dry in your journals. Now that we’re in the “month of love” we feel a bit more comfortable adding to the fray. Below is a random smattering of some of our most adored products sold on EuropeanPaper.com to aid you in writing love letters and sweet notes (or writing out your angst with the season). Below that we’ve got a fine selection of blogger’s links to pique your Valentine’s Day interest even further.

Moleskine Volant Pocket Ruled Notebook (Set of 2)

Brause Calligraphy Gift Set

Rhodia Large Webnotebook

Fisher Translucent Bullet Space Pen

Paperblanks Foil Embossed Large Wrap Journal

Mudlark Eco Lola Memento Boxed Note Cards

Jan Petr Obr Red Bicycle Boxed Flat Note Cards

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Oh So Beautiful Paper has had multiple Valentine’s Day collection posts that will warm your heart as you scroll through them. Check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and a splendid Part 5.

Similarly, Paper Crave shared tons of Valentine’s Day card designs to get your creative juices flowing. See her round-ups here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

The Sweetest Occasion has a sweet & simple DIY printable for Valentine’s Day; MJ Monaghan offers an interesting twist to the classics in his Valentine’s Card – 6 Special Options post; and Julie of Penpal of the Week did a round-up of some very sweet handmade cards.

Will you be doing anything special with pen & paper for Valentine’s Day? Share with us in the comments!

 

10 Letter Writing Tips

Writing a letter might seem like an art that no one follows anymore, like speaking Latin or doing the jitterbug (and where else can you find a comparison between those activities but here at EPC?), but there are many enthusiasts still out there. You’ll recognize us if you look closely. We sit in coffee shops with pens and paper in front of us instead of laptops. We walk into office supply stores and head over to the fountain pen ink refills instead of the printer ink refills.  We know how much an extra ounce costs, the price of an international stamp, and how much we can squeeze into a first class priority box before it explodes.

G. Lalo Verge de France Correspondence Sets

Yes, I am one of them (and proud of it!), and I write hundreds of letters every year. My free time is spent with pen in hand talking with friends near and far. When I walk out to the mailbox every day, I know more than bills and advertisements are waiting for me.

Of course, to GET letters, you have to SEND letters. So, here are the 10 best letter writing tips I know, based on hundreds of letters written (and received) every year. These tips refer to both personal and professional correspondence.  The first six tips are must-do’s; the second four are options to consider.

1. When you are going to write a letter, make sure you have enough time to do so. A rushed letter feels like a rushed letter, and typically, handwriting takes longer than you remember. If you aren’t sure you can find a free half hour or hour, combine your writing with other activities like watching a movie, waiting for the dryer to finish or sipping that morning cup of java.
2. As you begin writing, refer to your last visit, conversation or letter with that person. Mention where you were, something that was said, or another statement that reconnects the two of you.
3. Date the letter. I know that might not seem very important, but when the person reads the letter, re-reads it, and keeps it for ages, that date is very important. I recently dug through some old boxes and found all of the letters my mother wrote me while I was in college. She is no longer living, so these letters are truly precious to me. I organized them in the order she wrote them and put them in folders. The dates were essential.
4. Write legibly. I know, I know. Duh, right? But you wouldn’t believe how many people have almost illegible handwriting. They either try to be fancy or they simply haven’t dusted off their penmanship skills in a long time.  If you have trouble with cursive, print. If that doesn’t work well, type. Make it easy on your reader.
5. Ask the person questions.  A letter that just tells a person all about you-you-you and then says goodbye at the end is not much fun to read and often very difficult to respond to. Ask the person questions, such as: How is work? How are the children? Where have you traveled? What are you reading lately? They can be as simple or complex as you want to make them, but obviously keep your reader in mind regarding the type of personal questions you may ask. This will inspire the person to want to sit down and write back to you.
6. Follow the simple rules of good writing. Always double-check that you spelled their name correctly and make sure you have the right address for the envelope. You aren’t being graded here, so you don’t need topic sentences and appropriate transitional phrases between paragraphs (yes, I used to be an English teacher!), but make sure you aren’t writing in such a manner that others can’t understand what you’re saying.

Those were the “must-do’s” of letter writing. Here are four more tips to consider implementing as you write more.

1. 

   Mudlark Eco Hayden Leigh Memento Boxed Note Cards

   Use attractive paper and cards for your letter. The European Paper Company carries many lovely options, including boxed notecards, a wide selection of eco stationery, and much more. Sure, lined notebook paper is nice, but it can be dull. A letter on fine stationery is often much appreciated, but if all you have is lined notebook paper dress it up a bit to make it special.

2. Include fun little tuck-ins. Getting a letter is fun – getting a letter with surprises tucked inside it is even better. It can be photos, newspaper clippings, comics, bookmarks – whatever you want. These little extras can make letter writing even more enjoyable.
3. Respond to letters quickly, but not TOO quickly. If your letter is in response to one sent to you, don’t let it sit around for more than two to four weeks before answering it. If too much time goes by, the person may forget what he wrote or think you have decided not to respond at all.  If I haven’t heard from someone in more than a month, I also send a quick postcard making sure all is well with them. On the flip side, it might sound crazy, but I wouldn’t recommend responding to someone the day or day after you get a letter. That might be so quick that it makes the receiver feel pressured.
4. Finally, if all of this sounds wonderful but you’re stumped on who to write to, do some homework and check out organizations. If you don’t have family and friends that would be interested in writing letters, go to the The Letter Writer’s Alliance and The Letter Exchange online. They both offer wonderful connections to other crazy letter writers like me. EPC also lists web sites for letter writers to connect (check out the blogroll in the right column of this blog). Believe me—we are out there and waiting by our mailboxes. Write!

Monday Morning Review Round-up

Ink Reviews

Seize the David: Diamine Damson

Stationery Review: J Herbin Fountain Pen Ink – Eclate De Saphir

Pens, Paper, Ink … Whatever: DeAtramentis Black Edition Inks

Notebook/Planner Reviews

Gourmet Pens: Quo Vadis Small Blank Habana – Anise Green

Ms. Logica: Using My Filofax Flex

Rants of the Archer: The Northerly by Field Notes

Pen/Pencil Reviews

FPGeeks: Vintage Aurora 88 & TWSBI Diamond 540 Fountain Pen & Parker’s LE Duofold Senior Fountain Pens

A Penchant for Paper: Zebra Sarasa SE 07 Pink

Multi Pen Dimensions: Muji Wooden Hexagonal Ballpoint Pen

Rhonda Eudaly: Sharpie Stainless Steel Pen

Michael Rundle [Huff Post UK]: Wacom Inkling Review, Rejection, Inspiration And The Dream Of A Digital Moleskine

Economy Pens: Pentel EnerGel-X .7 Violet

Pocket Blonde: Seven Year Pen by Seltzer

Gourmet Pens: Uni-ball Signo Scents Gel Ink Pens

 

Monday Morning Review Round-up

Notebook/Planner Reviews

Plannerisms: 2012 Moleskine Monthly Notebook

Pen/Pencil Reviews

Does This Pen Make Me Look Fat: The Little Gems – my little gold writing implements

Economy Pens: Schneider Slider Memo XB 1.4mm Ballpoint

Steven H.: TWSBI 540 Fountain Pen Review

Seize the Dave: Visconti Homo Sapiens

FPGeeks: Noodler’s Aerometric / Eyedropper Ebonite Fountain Pen

Pens, Paper, Inks, Whatever: Hakumin Koboku Shiage

Gourmet Pens: Pelikan M1005 Demonstrator Fountain Pen

No Pen Intended: Yoropen Standard Ballpoint Pen

** This list was curated on Friday (as Leah  is out of town till Tuesday the 17th), so it doesn’t reflect any of the weekend reviews. Those will be included in the next Monday Review Round-up.**

 

Monday Morning Review Round-up

Ink Reviews

Peninkcillin: 2011 Ink of the Year

Peninkcillin: Noodler’s Year of the Golden Pig

Notebook/Planner Reviews

Does This Pen Write: Barnes & Noble 2012 Desk Diary

Penpalling-Dad: Rhodia Unlimited Pocket Notebook

Mom It Forward: Quo Vadis Planners Are Key to Organization

MsLogica: Daycraft Signature Gutenberg Notebook

Gourmet Pens: Piccadilly Essential Medium Notebook

Pocket Blonde: Millimeter Milligram Notebooks

Pen/Pencil Reviews

Peninkcillin: 2011 Fountain Pen of the Year

A Penchant for Paper: Pentel Fiesta 0.5mm Mechanical Pencil

Does This Pen Write: Lego Star Wars Connect and Build Pens

FPGeeks: Platinum Plaisir Fountain Pen

From the Pen Cup: Pilot Petit 1

Multi Pen Dimensions: Pilot Hi – Tec – C Slim Knock 0.4mm Gel Ink Pen & Ohto NBP – 507R Promecha Ballpoint Pen

No Pen Intended: BIC Disposable Fountain Pen & Kaweco Liliput Al Fountain Pen

Peaceable Writer: Tale of a Vandal Pen User: A Solitary Sailor

Penpalling-Dad: Rhodia Pencils

Gourmet Pens: Uni-ball Vision Needle Liquid Ink Roller Ball Pen & Pentel Oh! Gel Ink Pen

Recording Thoughts: Pencils – Mechanical vs. Wooden

Rhonda Eudaly: The Sharpie Pen RT and a New Grading System

Stationery Review: Lamy Safari – Medium Nib, Charcoal Body

Tiger Pens: Pentel Twist – Erase Mechanical Pencil & Zebra Jimnie Antique Gel Pen & Stabilo Greenpoint Sign Pen

 

Friday Blogger Tuck-ins

1 –> One of our past giveaway winners, Troy, posted about his prize! Check out his pictures of the Moleskine Academic Pocket Weekly Planner on his blog Penpal from Northeastern Colorado.

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2 –> 

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3 –> Ink/Pen/Pencil Review Round-up:
Papermate Inkjoy Ballpoint Pen Review by StationeryReview.com.
Pilot B2P 0.7mm Retractable Gel Ink Pen by GourmetPens.com.
Review: Stainless Steel Sharpie Pen Fine by GourmetPens.com.
J. Herbin Diabolo Menthe Ink Review by PenInkCillin.com.
Schrade Tactical Fountain / Ballpoint Pen by Multi Pen Dimensions.
Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen by Good Pens.

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4 –> An interesting find by Ana at The Well-Appointed Desk: “USB converter Underwood … This vintage typewriter has been modified to work as a USB keyboard for Mac, PC or iPad.” See it here.

In other typewriter news, Dana at SaveSnailMail.com made a great steal of a Royal KMM Typewriter for only $3 (they normally run close to $2K)! Check it out here. We look forward to hearing all about Dana’s adventures with it 🙂

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5 –> We love all these great images of washi tape used in holiday wrappings from The Sweetest Occasion. Have any holiday-inspired craft projects with washi tape you’d like to share? Put it in the comments!

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6 –> A couple Rhodia notepad reviews: One from Life Imitates Doodles on the No. 16 dotPad and the other from Gourmet Pens on the No. 11 Squared. Speaking of Rhodia, they just posted up on RhodiaDrive.com asking if people are interested in doing a 2012 Journal Swap using large dot grid Webnotebooks. See their full post here, but it should be quite obvious that they received quite a lot of positive feedback!

And if you’re a Rhodia fan, check our blog all next week when we’ll be giving away a Rhodia Notepad each day! See our post on it for more details. Have a fab weekend!

Giving the Right Gift: Eco-Friendly Lokta Journals

Cherry Blossoms Large Lokta Journal on EPC

As the holiday season approaches, we are inundated with advertisements to buy, buy, buy! Something for all our family members; something shiny and new for our significant others; something small for all our co-workers; and something for ourselves, of course. The choices on gifts are essentially endless, and the options can overwhelm anyone into simply picking up a gift card, slapping a bow on it, and calling it good.

However, if we stop for a minute and take a breath from mass consumerism, we can remember a time when it was not this difficult to pick out or create a gift for those we know and love. If you think about it, most kids hand-make cards and gifts for their parents. The time and energy that went into these gifts were worth far more than anything they could have bought, and they end up being the most cherished gifts a person could receive for a long time to come. So why don’t we continue this into adulthood?

The main excuse is time (or lack thereof), of course. Many adults become so busy with work, taking care of their home and family (and maintaining their sanity), they just don’t have the time to sit down for arts and crafts. Don’t fret though, instead of buying some shiny object that comes across media outlets, there is a way to show you care (even without having the time to do it yourself). I’m talking about eco-friendly products made of handcrafted materials. For example, an eco-friendly journal can have all the flair of a fancy new gadget, all the hard work of a gift delicately crafted by your hand, and all the meaning of something given from the heart.

One of the most commonly handcrafted papers is Lokta paper.  Also called Nepali paper it is made from the bark of the Lokta bush that grows naturally in the Himalayan foothills.  The process is incredibly sustainable, doesn’t require any chemicals or machined manufacturing, and a lot of individual energy from local Nepalese villagers goes into making every one of the pages in a Lokta journal. Here’s a glimpse at the process:

• Stripping the Bark:
• The inner bark of the Lokta plant must be stripped by hand and thoroughly cleaned, then chopped into small sections.  The batch is then soaked in water for up to 6 hours to soften the fibers.
• Cooking Process:
• After the sections of Lokta bark have soaked, they are cooked in a water and soda solution for 1 to 2 hours.  This process helps break down the cells and allow the bark to become more malleable be formed into paper.
• Forming the Paper:
• When the cells have lost their rigid structure, the pulp is pounded with flat rocks to break it down further.  It is then poured into a flat wooden mould and allowed to dry in the sun.

Lama Li Large Lokta Travel Journal on EPC

The finished product is a paper that is not only pleasant to the eye and to the touch, but also one that is incredibly strong.  Since the paper is not bleached or cured with any chemicals to alter its look there are individual variances in every strand that enhance the natural look and feel of the paper.  Plus, the Lokta plant is a renewable resource as it regenerates after every pruning (which takes about 2 to 4 years to fully grow back), so a person can not only have the satisfaction that their journal is providing jobs for the Nepalese that will last for years to come, but that the environment is not being destroyed in the process.

Finding the right gift can be a burden.  In today’s society is often too easy to get caught up in the commercialism of the season and forget about finding a gift that has real meaning behind it.  While there are a lot of great gifts out there, the one with a story, hard work, and meaning behind it will surely stand out above the rest.

Giveaway: Fabriano Medioevalis Box

Fabriano Medioevalis Folded Cards : click for more.

Giveaway Alert! We’ve got a lovely box of Fabriano Medioevalis Reception Folded Cards (200 x 300 mm) that is so lonely; it needs a new home!

From our site: “Built on the foundation of quality and tradition, Fabriano’s elegant Medioevalis Reception Folded Cards have myriad uses. The luxurious soft feel of the 260 gsm cards is sure to inspire for any event. Combined with the Reception Envelopes, they are perfect for letterpress, offset, inkjet, laserjet, ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, light washes, stamping, rubbings, stencils, engraving and printmaking.” … Or really anything else you can come up with!

Fabriano Medioevalis Folded Cards : click for more.

This beautiful Cartiere Milliani Fabriano Decorative Box includes 100 moulde-made cards to be used any way you like. Plus, you can use the box afterward to hold other paper, letters, or mementos. **Disclaimer: This box does have one corner we repaired (there was a slight tear), but the paper inside is pristine.**

To enter: Leave a comment on this blog post with an accurate email address & what you would use the Fabriano paper for … that’s it! You’ve got 48 hours – we’re announcing the randomly chosen winner at 9 a.m. (MST) on Friday, 12/9!
(Sorry, but this giveaway is only open to those in the U.S.)

Green Gifts: Thoughtful Eco-Friendly Products for Friends & Family

Whether it’s during the major holiday season or for birthdays or life events, give your friends, family, and coworkers thoughtful gifts that have a minimal ecological impact. Pretty and sleek, eco-friendly stationery and office supplies come in a variety of colors and designs. With so much range, you can find the perfect, environmentally-responsible gift for everyone on your list!

For the Harried, Hurried Exec

Exacompta Exacard Wirebound Business Card Holder on EPC

For the busy professionals in your life, give the gift of organization with the Exacompta Exacard Wirebound Business Card Holder. Your environmentally-conscious professional friends will appreciate the 80-percent recycled material. With slots that hold up to 120 cards, you’ll also help them reign in those unruly stacks of business cards. You also can send this to your business contacts as a creative, professional holiday gift. Slip your card into the proper alphabetical slot, and turn the sleek card holder into a fun – and functional – business gift.

For the Daydreamer

Poo Poo Paper Elephant Silhouette Journal on EPC

Give the writer, dreamer, or goal-setter a unique gift: a journal made from elephant poop. That’s right; the Poo Poo Paper Elephant Silhouette Journal is made from elephant dung that has been cleaned, processed, and turned into ecologically-responsible journal paper. This one-of-a-kind gift will impress the eco-friendly journal writers on your list. Personalize the journal by writing an inspirational quote or heartfelt message on the inside cover.

For the Creative Genius

Eco Vintage Journal on EPC

The blank tree-free pages of the Eco Vintage Journal beg for sketches. The artist in your life will be inspired by the hand-painted images adorning the cover of each journal. Because many artists develop preferences for materials and media, it can be difficult to find just the right thing. These journals give an artist plenty of blank space with room to scrawl in a travel-friendly size.

For your Nearest & Dearest

Mudlark Eco Hayden Leigh Boxed Note Cards on EPC

For a gift that is as wallet-friendly as it is eco-friendly, pick up a recycled paper notecard and pen a love letter. Though it sounds too simple, a heartfelt, handwritten note will give the recipient a lasting memory and a keepsake that will last longer than another scarf-and-gloves set. Write a note to your mom telling her how grateful you are for all she’s done for you. Pen a romantic note to your partner detailing why you love them. Send a letter to your friends explaining why their friendship means so much to you. Tie a bow around the envelope and leave it under the tree – or draw a bow on the envelope flap if you’re sending it through the mail. This simple, eco-conscious, budget-friendly gift can be a meaningful gift that may even spark a new tradition.

Lama Li Eco Hemp Pencil Bag on EPC

For the OCD Organizer

Give the gift of storage to your favorite organizer. The Lama Li Hemp Pencil Bag is handmade from uber-eco-friendly hemp. At four-by-eight inches, it’s big enough to tote pens, pencils, and highlighters, while being small enough to tuck into a purse or laptop bag. Plus, it’s a gift with good karma: Proceeds from sales help support rural economic development projects inNepal.

For the Fountain Pen Aficionado

Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Blue Marble Fountain Pen on EPC

Channel an American legend with the Conklin Mark Twain Crescent Fountain Pen. A classic refillable pen is an eco-chic alternative to traditional writing instruments. Americans buy around 106 billion (yes, billion!) ballpoint pens each year. All that plastic eventually ends up in the landfill. Spend more on an elegant pen that will last a lifetime, stay out of the garbage, and inspire your grateful recipient.